Titanium Corporation has moved an important step closer to building the first commercial installation of a technology designed to reduced methane emissions from oilsands tailings ponds while at the same time recovering bitumen, solvent and high-value heavy minerals.

Canadian Natural Resources has now committed up to $3.7 million to conduct engineering design for the proposed project, located at the oilsands major’s Horizon mining and upgrading site, Titanium says, adding to its own commitment of $1.5 million.

The project, estimated to cost $10.2 million, has also received support from Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA) — a grant of up to $5.0 million from ERA is being finalized with negotiations to be completed by October 31.

Titanium has been developing its technology since 2004, progressively conducting a series of more detailed pilot projects including a $15-million demonstration pilot for three oilsands producers in 2010, executed with $5 million in funding from Sustainable Technology Development Canada.